Folding table



UNITED STATES GEORGE J'. KORN, 0F KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI.

FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Way 17, 1921.

Application filed August 10, 1920. Serial No. 402,549.

v To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. KoRN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Kirksville, in the county of Adair and Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in folding tables, and has for its object to provide a table of the character specified which may be folded into a body having the form and approximately the dimensions of a suitcase or which may be opened out into a flat top table, and wherein the elements are securely braced so that there is no possibility of collapse.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the table showing it unfolded;

Figs. 2, 3, a and 5 are sections on the lines 22, 3-3, 44 and 55, respectively, of

F ig 1;

'ig. 6 is a perspective view showing the table folded.

In the present embodiment of the invention the table is composed of'a top consisting of similar sections 1 and 2, each of which is composed of a top proper and a depending flange which extends entirely around the top, the flange of the to section 1 being indicated at 3, while that o the top section 2 is indicated at 4.

These top sections may be covered with leather, imitation leather or the like, to provide a smooth and ornamental finish, and to the end flanges of each section 1 and 2 of the top there is secured a bar or plate 5, the said bars being riveted or otherwise secured to the top flanges. Each of these bars is of a length to extend from near the outer edge of the top section to the inner edge, and they are connected at their meeting ends by a hinge plate 6, the said plate being pivoted to both plates 5.

A brace arm 7 is pivoted to the plate 5 of the section 1, and the other end of the brace plate is slidably connected with the adjacent end flange of the section 2. Each of these brace plates, of which there is one at each end of the table, is composed of three portions, namely, a central portion and lat eral portions which extend from the central portion at obtuse angles. The arrangement is such that when the table is opened the central portion of the brace plate will depend below the hinge plate 6 which connects the plates 5.

A guide 8 is connected with the top section 2 above the plate 5, and a slide 9 is slidably engaged with this guide. The guide, as shown in Fig. 5, is substantially channel shaped, having the side walls provided with inwardly extending flanges which engage over the slide 9 to prevent disengagement thereof. This guide is of a length to permit the slide 9 to move far enough to permit the table top 6 to fold together, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and as shown in full lines in Fig. 6, that is, in such manner that the open sides of the top sections are together, and the free edge of the flanges 3 and 4 abut to form an inclosed casing.

Each brace arm 7 is held in the full line position shown in Fig. 1 by means of a latch plate 10. Each of these latch plates 10 is hinged to the adjacent hinge plate 6, each latch p ate being in the form of an angle plate, one portion of which is hinged to the plate 6 and theother of which is adapted to engage below the adjacent brace bar to hold the bar elevated. The bars may be easily released by swinging the latch plates inwardly at their free ends, as shown in Fig. 2, and the said arms will hold the top section in the same plane and the top in extended position without any danger of collapsing,.when they are engaged by the latch plates. Legs 11 are hinged to the top sections, eac leg being pivoted to the adj acent plate 5, near the outer ends of the said plates, and braces 12 are provided for holding the legs in extended position. Each of these brace arms 12 is pivoted to the adjacent plate 5 at one end and is slidably connected with the adj acent leg at the other. The said other end of each brace arm is pivoted to a slide 13, which engages a guide 14 on the table leg and similar to the guide 8 before mentioned. Each slide is provided at its upper end with an outwardly extending lug 15 for limiting the upward movement of the slide and near the said upper end there is provided a latch 16 for preventing downward movement of the slide. Each of these latches is hinged at one end in a recess 17 in the table leg and is normally pressed outwardly at its upper end by a spring 18 arranged in the recess between the latch and the bottom of the recess. The

upper end of the latch is notched to engage the slide, as shown in Fig. 5, and the latches may be easily released by pushing the upper ends inwardly.

- Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the legs 11 are pivoted to the plates 5, but in spaced relation, a bracket 19 being arranged between each leg and the plate 5. The bracket 19 is substantially U-s-haped and has one end secured to the top of the leg, the other end being secured to that face or edge of the leg which is adjacent to the plate 5. One of the sections is preferably provided with a handle, indicated at 20, and connecting means of any suitable character may be provided for connecting the two sections together when the table is folded. v

In operation, when it is desired to unfold the table from the position of Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 1, the top sections are opened out, as

. indicated in Fig. 1. The slide 9 moves in the guide 8, and when the sections land 2 are in the position of Fig. 1 the latch plate 10 is engaged with the bar 7, locking the top sections in extended position.

The legs 11 which have been folded into the sections are now opened out, as indicated in dotted lines at the right of Fig. 1, into the full line position of Fig. 1. As the slides 13 move upwardly they will move above the latches 16, which will be pressed outwardly by the'springs 18, thus locking the slides at the top of the-guides. The table is now locked in extended position. To fold the table it is only necessary to release the latches 16 and fold the legs into the topsections, and the latches 10 are now released and the top sec-.

tions are folded together.

I claim:

1. A table of the character specified, comprising top sections each consisting of a body and an angular marginal flange, a hinged connection. between the sections for permitting them to fold with the bodies in alinement or upon each other with the flanges connected to the sections.

2. A table of the character specified, comprising top sections each consisting of a body and an angular marginal flange, a hinged connection between the sections for permit ting them to fold with the bodies in alinement or upon each other with the flanges abutting, legs pivoted to the sections at the outer edges thereof, a brace for each leg pivoted to the top section and slidabl connected with the leg, and a brace arm or holding the sections with the bodies in alinement, said arm being pivoted to one section and having a sliding connection with the other, and means for preventing downward movement of the brace when the sections are extended.

3. A table of the character specified, comprising top sections each consisting of a body and an an ular marginal flange, a hinged connection etween the sections for permitting them to fold with the bodies in alinement or upon each other with the flanges abutting, legs pivoted to the sections at the outer edges thereof, a brace for each leg pivoted to the top section and slidably connected with the leg, and a brace arm for holding the sections with the bodies in alinement, said arm being pivoted to one section and having a sliding connection with the other, and means for preventing downward movement of the brace when the sections are extended, and releasable means in-connection with each leg for preventing sliding move ment of the brace.

GEORGE J KORN. 

